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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. file — a tool
  4. court — for sport
  5. straw — a straw man
  6. court — of law
  7. file — a document
  8. file — a line of people
  9. suit — in cards
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. can — a tin
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. suit — to fit
  16. can — to be able to
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. rush — hurry
  19. can — a tin
  20. rock — music
  21. suit — clothes
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. rock — a stone
  24. rush — to hurry

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com